News Clippings

Certified for Good: Klausing Group Becomes a B Corp

For more than 25 years, Klausing Group has built landscapes that don’t just look good, but do good—paying every team member a living wage, offering full benefits, and giving back 10% of profits to the community. Now, they’ve taken it a step further by becoming one of Kentucky’s first Certified B corporations and a public benefit corporation, recognized for meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

For founder Roscoe Klausing, the certification isn’t a new direction, but a milestone: “It’s like having an independent referee say, ‘Yep, you’re doing it right,’” he says. From supporting biodiversity and stormwater management to reinvesting in nonprofits, the company is committed to continuous improvement and using business as a force for good.

As Klausing puts it: “Business success and stakeholder wellbeing aren’t just compatible—they’re interdependent.”

A Must-Have Guide for Today’s Landscape Professionals

Landscape Construction for Urban Landscape Sustainability is a comprehensive textbook and an essential resource for anyone in the landscape construction industry—from aspiring landscape architects and students to hands-on designers, contractors, and property managers. With practical content covering everything from plan reading and estimating to lighting installation and sustainable water use, this book offers foundational skills and forward-thinking practices tailored to today’s evolving landscape industry.

As technology, materials, and environmental considerations shift, so must our approach to building and maintaining landscapes. This book provides clear methods to achieve high-quality, sustainable results—whether you’re managing a team, overseeing a project, or evaluating craftsmanship. You’ll learn how to reduce heat island effects, increase shade in urban spaces, and integrate plantings that promote long-term environmental health.

Whether you're educating future pros or raising the bar on your current projects, this reference bridges knowledge gaps and inspires excellence in every phase of landscape construction.

The Future of Outdoor Wellness

As wellness continues to reshape how we live and design our outdoor spaces, a new partnership is setting the tone for 2026. Soake Pools, the pioneers of year-round precast plunge pools, have joined forces with Harbor Saunas, the design-forward studio crafting prefabricated outdoor saunas. Together, they’re delivering a seamless, high-end contrast therapy experience—hot to cold, stress to calm—all in the comfort of your backyard.

Rooted in Scandinavian wellness rituals and driven by a demand for healthier lifestyles, this collaboration elevates more than aesthetics—it redefines how we unwind. Both brands share a common ethos: durable, beautiful, low-hassle design with deeply personal impact. Whether you're a contractor looking to streamline installs or a homeowner designing your sanctuary, this duo offers customizable solutions that are both stunning and smart.

From backyard sanctuaries to boutique resorts embracing wellness tourism, the Soake × Harbor synergy responds to a growing trend: people are choosing spaces that support their health, connection, and intentional living. And with wellness becoming a lifestyle, not just a luxury, this partnership isn’t a trend—it’s a movement.

Welcome to the next chapter in outdoor living.

Listen to the podcast here. 

Where Landscaping Meets Competition

The Landscape Rodeo is set for January 23-24th, 2026, and will showcase the skill, precision, and passion of the green industry. With 20+ competitive events featuring mowers, skid steers, excavators, and small equipment challenges, the rodeo highlights both craftsmanship and community. More than just a competition, it’s a chance for professionals, students, and sponsors to connect, network, and grow the future of landscaping together. Join us at Ancient City Farmstead in St. Augustine, FL. For more information, check out www.thelandscaperodeo.com.

Urture Opens Flagship Store in Manchester

This July, lifestyle and apparel brand urture™ celebrated the opening of its flagship brick-and-mortar store in downtown Manchester Center, VT. Founded by Zech Strauser, urture™ blends nature, urban grit, and hard work into a brand with a mission: to raise $1 million for the trades.

More than a retail shop, the new space at 915 Main St. serves as a pop-up-style hub, featuring a curated walk-in store, street-facing media studio with live broadcasts, offices, and the company’s pack-and-ship center. Strauser describes urture™ as “purpose with every purchase,” offering durable gear and clothing designed for hardworking people who live and play outdoors.

Signature products like no-vest visibility shirts™ and greencollar™ workwear celebrate blue-collar pride, while supporting trade schools through initiatives like the Patch Project. “We want people to feel good about working hard and never giving up—that’s the urture way,” Strauser said.

Learn more at urture.com.

Photos, from top: Joseph Rey Au, Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots Program; urture. 

Read the article in the digital issue here.